34th Annual Student Research Conference
Relationship between variation in nymphal Amblyomma americanum activity in Kirksville, Missouri and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Benjamin J. Grabner
Dr. Stephanie Fore and Dr. Hyun-Joo Kim, Faculty Mentors
The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a pattern of coupled oceanic and atmospheric changes in the Pacific Ocean that affects weather worldwide. Winters in Kirksville, Missouri are warmer and dryer during the El Niño years and colder and wetter during the La Niña years of the ENSO cycle. The objective of this research was to determine if a relationship exists between variation in nymphal Amblyomma americanum activity in Kirksville and the ENSO. The Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) was selected to quantify fluctuations in the ENSO and the abundance data used to determine tick activity was collected via bait and drag sampling between 2007-2017. Regression analyses were run between each of the measures of tick activity; start week, end week, and duration of the active period; and the corresponding ONI values but no significant correlations were found. However, the study period included only two El Niño events.
Keywords: El Niño, climate, Amblyomma americanum, Lone-star Tick, nymph activity, Missouri
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Face-to-Face Oral Presentation
Session: 401-3
Location: SUB GEO
Time: 4:00